Binder



June 22, 1965 J. D, SCHNEIDER ETAL 3,190,293

a DMN@ www f M Wm.. ..-ww wwJmm WN@ BINDER Filed Dec. 1s, 1962 United States Patent O 3,190,293 BINDER John D. Schneider, Deerieid, and .lohn L. Noian, Glen- This invention relates to ring holders for holding papers and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to ring holders of the loose-leaf type having aligned ring halves capable of opening and closing for insertion and removal of papers from the ring holder.

Loose-leaf type ring holders are used in may places, such as for example, in hospitals for keeping records. As sheets become full, new sheets are added leaving the hold sheets in the binder. Diiculty is often experienced in adding new sheets because binders have been conventionally either difficult to open or too easy to close. Too easy closing of the binder can result in injury to a person carelessly closing the rings in that the ring parts are usually sharp and the spring is often powerful; or the ring can accidentally snap shut causing severe cutting of flesh. Obviously, these conditions are undesirable.

Further, conventional loose-leaf type ring holders are usually clipped with a metal ring carrier which is wider than the ring. Such wide ring carrier inhibits the turning of leaves or sheets within the ring holder back on themselves for writing on the reverse side. The sheets normally must bend around the back of the ring carrier and the tendency is for such leaves to tear out of the rings.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and useful holder which overcomes the problems mentioned above as well as many others.

Another object is to provide a ring holder which is spring urged to the closed position and lockable in either the open or closed position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a ring holder in which a set of one or more ring halves is secured to each of two bars which can be pivoted longitudinally with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis or fulcrum, the ring halves cooperating to form rings which can be opened or closed, and in which a part of each bar comprises a joining member which is adapted to be received by a similar member on the other bar to lock the ring holder in both open and closed positions.

An additional object of this invention is to provide such a ring holder in which longitudinally slidable bars are urged by compression of the spring means acting along the bars to slide longitudinally with respect to each other for engagement of locking means with the ring holder in either open or closed position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ring holder device for holding papers and the like including tube means enclosing the pivotal axis of the pivotable ring halves and a coil spring means within the tube for the purpose of urging the ring halves toward their closed position.

Another object is to provide such a ring holder device with gripping or handle means for disengaging the locking means and, in one aspect, also to provide such gripping or handle means which projects sufliciently length- Wise from the ring holder device to provide for suspending the device by the handle or gripping means in a chart rack.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ring holder device which is constructed of rst and second ring half assemblies, each assembly comprising an elongated bar having a handle end and having a ICC plurality of ring halves secured on the bar adjacent one edge of the bar and extending from a first side of the bar, each bar having an angular surface defining a fulcrum adjacent the other edge of the bar and on the second side of the bar, each bar also having a cylindrical surface opposing the fulcrum, the axis of the cylindrical surface being at the fulcrum, the ring half assemblies having their fulcrum surfaces held together in pivotal cooperation for opening and closing the ring holder device, the holding together being accomplished by a slotted cylindrical tube covering the cylindrical surfaces, having its axis at the axes of the cylindrical surfaces coinciding with the fulcrum and enclosing the spring means within the tube and within recesses within the cylindrical surface portions of the elongated bars, the spring means being capable of urging the bars on their fulcrum surfaces to a closed position with respect to the ring halves.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and useful ring holder in accordance with any of the foregoing objects wherein the rings in closed position are of oval configuration and separable along a side of the oval, thereby providing greater width with respect to depth of the ring holder for increasing the capacity of the ring holder for holding a greater number of sheets of paper.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a ring holder in accordance with any of the foreging objects wherein a narrow ring carrier is included to permit more ease in turning of sheets within the holder back on themselves for writing on reverse sides Without undue tearing of the sheets from the rings.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new and useful ring holder in accordance with the foregoing objects which may be safely used.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent to those in the art from the following description and the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates several units constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the ring binder of this invention suspended in a chart rack;

FIGURE 2 is a side view and partial section of the embodiment of FIGURE l with the rings in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1 with slotted tube 51 removed;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a portion of FIGURE 2 enlarged to better show the locking means;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section along lines 7-7 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a Vertical section along line 8 8 in FIGURE 5.

With reference to FIGURE 1, ring holder devices indicated generally at 20, are `shown suspended from sides of chart rack 10 by extended ends of the ring holder devices shown generally at 13 and 14. The ring holder devices contain papers, including charts and the like, relating to hospital patients. l

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 8, ring holder device 2t? is constructed of two ring half assemblies. The ring half assemblies include a narrow carrier, such as plastic bars 21 and 22, with rings, such as oval rings formed from ring halves 23a through 23h and 24a through 24h secured to the lower edges of bars 21 and 22 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment each bar 21 and 22 is molded integrally with the ring halves secured thereto; however, it is to be understood that other materials of construction and other means for securing the ring halves to the bars may be used. Preferably, the rings and especially the points of the rings may be of a. plastic material providing no edges capable of injuring *Y the user. Handles 25 andV Y 21 and 22 Vat' the handle or gripping ends thereof.

6 are moded vparts'of bars of springsl, 62, 63 and Y64 are engaged with lthe outerY Bars 21 and 22 have cylindrical surfaces 31 and 32 respectively. Fulcrum surfaces 33 and 34 areials'oprof The 4fulcrurn surfaces areton.

vided on Vbars 21 and 22. l t opposite sides of the bars from cylindrical surfaees'31 and 32 but are along the same edge as'the cylindrical surfaces.

The fulcrum Surfaces comprise a flat tapered surface along one longitudinal side and edge of each bar. Longitudinal fulcruin' 35'occurs where the two fulcrum surfaces pivot with respect to each other, i.e., in the illustrat-ed embodi-V ment where the planes of the fulcrum surfaces intersect the planes of the inner sides of bars 21 and 22 as best shown with reference to FIGURE 8.

Each of bars 21 and 22 is provided with a pair of openings 42 opposing them on'the opposing bar. Thus,

the projections 41 and openings 42 provide for interlocking of the projections'when engaged -withthe bars-inA closed position. The engagementl of projections is` attained during closure 'of the ring halves by longitudinal and pivotal movement of the bars as maybe accomplished 'w u through 59;

by means of handles 25 .and 26.

The projections 41 are eachideinedbyl a closed position engaging and locking surface'43 and an open'position engaging and locking surface 44/and an angularsurface.

surface of bar 22, e .g. as shownfor end 63bin FIGURES 5V and 6, vand it is evident that like engagement 1s provided for the ends of the other-coil springs -on the outer t surface of barY 212. Slight notches, e.g., as shown at 21a, 2lb, 21e, 21d and 22e, are provided on the outer surfaces 1 of bars 21 and 22 'at the places where the ends of the coilsprings engage the bars to preventthe ends from slipping out of'engagement. Also, small notches (not shown) are provided in -tube'Sl at slot 52, wherever necessary, to permit projection ofthe spring ends from within tube 51. Because bars 21 and 22 are longitudinally f slidable V'within tube 51, tube 51 being longitudinally slidably fitted over the cylindrical surfaces of bars 21' and 22, the notches for protrusion of the spring ends from tube 51 should be suiiiciently elongated to permit slidable movement of the Ibars with respect to each other to move the bolt ends of the bars kto and from the locked position.

The projections; of the springends, in additionto compression of the springs themselves, mayserve as inhibitors or stops for the sliding motion of thelbars lwith respect to each other, Y

Itis apparent that tube 51 contains the coil springs which are lunder torsion and compressionr within the re- 45 extending from adjacent the-.closed position locking surfaceto Vthe open position locking surface.rv The bars and ring halves are locked in closed position byengagement oftheV closed position locking surfaces'with each of projections' 41 extending into acoo'perating opening 42 and interlocking lanother projection 41'. -With the ring halves and bars in open position, each of projections 42 cesses 56, 57, 58 and 59. The ycoil springs contained within tube 5 1 have their ends mounted on nubs 6) of bars 21 and 22 extending from each end into recesses 56 In operation of the illustrated ring holder device, assuming the ring holder to be ,in locked, closed position, as shown in FIGURE 2, to unlock the device handles 2S an-d 26 are gripped and pulled outward, thereby dislodging i 'projections 41 from each other and from slots 42. Springsr has its open position locking surface 44 abutting anopen position locking surface 44 of another `projection 41 and preventing they projection 41from entering an opening 42.

Slotted metal tube 51, having longitudinal slot 52, surrounds the upper portions of bars 21' and 22 and contains cylindrical surfaces 31 'and 32' and fulcrum surfaces 33 and 34, including longitudianl fulcrum 35, therein. Slotted tube 51 istconcentric with cylindrical surfaces 31 and 32 andthe center of the'slotted tube coincides substantially with longitudinal fulcruinA 35. Thus,"the cylindrical surfaces ride lsubstantially parallel to the inner surface of tube 51 during opening and closing of the rings; Ofcoiurse, it is to be understood that precise alignment of the center of tube 51, the centers of the cylindricalsurfaces 31 `and 32 and the longitudinal fulcrum 3 5 isnot necessary. elimination of cylindrical surfaces, will beV apparent to those in the art.

Tube 51 holds barsl 21'- and 22 in association at longitudinal fulcrum 35. Bar 21 is provided with recesses 56a, 57a, 53a and 59aV and bar 22is provided with corresponding recesses Y56b, "57b, 58b and 59b. Recesses 56a and b vare 'aligned when the bars are in the locked open position, as are recesses 57a and b, recesses 58d and b and recesses 59a and b aligned with the bars in 56, 57, 58 andv 59- respectively lare coilsprings 61,62,

Various operable modifications," including 61 through 64 are'thereby further compressed. Handles 25 and 26 are then pivoted away from each other along line 35. The pivoting motion causes increased torsion in springs 61 through 64; Upon pivoting bars 21 and 22 by handle -25 Vand 26`respectiv-ely, sufficiently to align surfaces 44 of .projections 41, the outward kor longitudinal pull on handles` 25 and 26 is released and projections 41 are urged by compression of springs 61 through 64 toward each other with surfaces 44 engaging and/ or sliding over each other to lock the rings in open position. Surfaces 45 Aare inclined and may engage each other upon release of handles 25 and 26, in which case the incline of surfaces 45 is such todirect projections 41 into engagement of surfaces 44 under urging `of the springs.

To close the rings of the'ring holder, handles 25 `and 26 are pulled outwardly sufficiently to dislodge projections 41 fr'om each other. The tortion of springs'61 through 64 then causes pivotingiof b ars 21 and 22 about longitudinal fulcrum -35 toward each other and toward closed position. When surfaces 43 become realigned with each other, with projections41within slots or openings 42, the compression ofthe springs urges the projections into-'surface to surface engagement of :surfaces 43 andthe ring holdery is againin locked closed position.

63 amd64, The coil springs are under torsion and are longitudinally compressible and preerably-undersome The Vforegoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom. Some modification should be obvious to those skilled in the art.

. We claim:

1. A ring holder devicecomprising; first and second identical ring-.half members each comprising an elongate bar having inner and outer faces and upper and lower edges, said bars including a generally at basey portion,

' a plurality of ring halves extending from the lower 4edge compression when bars 21 and 22 are in locked position as well as unlockedLposition. project to engage Ybars 21 and 22 on their outer surfaces to urge bars 21 and 22 together by pivoting around longitudinal fulcrurn 35.; VEngagement Tof ends 61a,'62a, 63a, and 64fz'of` coilsprings 61, 6-2, 63a`nd 64 respectively with the vexterior or outer` surface of bar 21 is best shown in FIGURE 2. Ends 61h, 62b, 63b and 64b" Ends ofrtheV coil springsr of eachouter face, arocking portion near the"upper edge having a generally cylindricaly surface on the outer face vandan inner face which flares outwardly away from the ybase inner face toward the upper edge, said rst and second member being normally disposed .with their respec- I tive baseinner facesadjacent each other and with their ring halves mating to forma closed loop and `define a closed ring holder position with said rocking portion inner faces flaring away from each other; a longitudinally 'slotted cylindrical tube covering said cylindrical surfaces and mounting said ring half assemblies for slidable movement relative to each other as well as `swingable movement wherein said cylindrical surfaces rotate relative to said cylindrical tube to bring said rocking portion inner faces toward each other and said ring halves are spread apart to define an open position; locking means on each of said assemblies, said locking means including a projection on each bar opposing a similar projection on the other bar and slidably engageable with said opposing projection when the bars are slidably moved re1- ative to each other, engagement of said projections corresponding to said closed and fully open positions to selectively retain said ring holder in either position; and a handle portion projecting laterally outwardly from opposed ends of said members affording a `.surface for grasping the members and manipulating the same for slidable and swingable movement between open and closed positions.

2. The device of claim 1 including spring means within said tube urging said ring holder toward said closed position and urging said projections into slidable engagement with each other.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said spring means is a plurality of coil springs mounted within said tubes and each of said coil springs engages the outer face of said bars so that longitudinal movement of said ring halves relative to each other is in opposition to the tension of said springs and the torsion of said springs normally urges said device to said closed position.

4. A ring holder device comprising: first and second ring half members each comprising an elongate bar having inner and outer faces and upper and lower edges, said bars including a generally ilat base portion, a plurality of ring halves extending from the lower edge of the outer face of said base portion, and rocking portions on the upper edge of `said base portions, said iirst and second members being normally disposed with their respective base inner faces adjacent each other and with their ring halves mating to form a closed loop and define a closed ring -holder position; a longitudinally slotted cylindrical tube covering said rocking portions and mounting said ring half members for slidable movement relative to each other as Well as swingable movement wherein said ring halves are spread apart to define an open position; and locking means on each of said members, said locking means including a projection on each bar in general opposition to a similar projection on the other bar and slidably engageable with said opposing projection when said bars are slidably moved relative to each other, engagement of said projections corresponding to said closed and open positions to selectively retain said ring holder in either position and recesses in either bar generally opposite the projection of the other bar to receive said projections when in locking engagement in said closed position to permit said base portion inner faces to abut one another so that said ring halves may mate to form a closed loop, said projection positioned adjacent to said recesses with a portion overhanging said recesses so that when the ring holder is in the closed position, the opposing projections occupy the opposing recesses in juxtaposition with the opposing overhanging portions to prevent rotational opening movement of the ring holder, said projections having a cam surface on the overhanging portion which inclines away from the recess so that when the holder is swung to an open position, the members may be slid relative to each other to bring the cam surfaces into juxtaposition to hold the binder in a fully open position.

S. A ring hold of claim 4 including spring means within said tube for urging said ring holder toward closed position and urging said projection into slidable engagement with each other, said spring means comprising a plurality of coil springs mounted within said tubes, each of said coil springs including the outer face of said bars so that longitudinal movement of the ring halves relative to each other is in opposition to the tension of said springs and the torsion of -said springs normally urges said device to said closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 798,899 9/05 Hafely 129-37 857,377 6/09 Baker 129-34 1,134,616 4/15 Johanson 129-16 X 2,268,431 12/41 Slonneger 129--24 2,715,906 I8/55 Lucchesi f 29-24 FOREGN PATENTS 670,416 1/ 39' Germany.

6,075 2/98 Norway.

JEROME SCHALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RING HOLDER DEVICE COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND IDENTICAL RING HALF MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BAR HAVING INNER AND OUTER FACES AND UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, SAID BARS INCLUDING A GENERALLY FLAT BASE PORTION, A PLURALITY OF RING HALVES EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OUTER FACE, A ROCKING PORTION NEAR THE UPPER EDGE HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SURFACE ON THE OUTER FACE AND AN INNER FACE WHICH FLARES OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE BASE INNER FACE TOWARD THE UPPER EDGE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBER BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE BASE INNER FACES ADJACENT EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR RING HALVES MATING TO FORM A CLOSED LOOP AND DEFINE A CLOSED RING HOLDER POSITION WITH SAID ROCKING PORTION INNER FACES FLARING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; A LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED CYLINDRICAL TUBE COVERING SAID CYLINDER SURFACES AND MOUNTING SAID RING HALF ASSEMBLIES FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AS WELL AS SWINGABLE MOVEMENT WHEREIN SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACES ROTATE RELA- 